They were born six weeks apart in 1986 and played baseball together in Alabama. One became a first-round draft pick with the St. Louis Cardinals and was touted as a star-on-waiting. The other went to university, became an eighth-round pick and only recently emerged as a pitcher with big-league promise.

Now Colby Rasmus and Evan Crawford share the same clubhouse as members of the Toronto Blue Jays. Rasmus is the centre-fielder. Crawford made his major-league debut on Sunday, pitching a scoreless ninth inning in a win over Baltimore.

Crawford said he was excited when the Blue Jays acquired Rasmus from the St. Louis Cardinals last summer. But the left-handed reliever was still in Double-A and had no idea when or if they would become big-league teammates.

When Crawford was called up Friday, he doubled the country flavour in the Jays’ clubhouse.

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“Me and Colby, we grew up together, so it’s nice to have him around,” Crawford said. “When we were 12 years old we started playing together. We’ve known each other a while. Got some country here too.”

Crawford attended Auburn University in Alabama and started his pro career in Auburn, N.Y. He was pitching for Double-A New Hampshire when he got the call to bring his unorthodox pitching delivery to Toronto.

Asked about the delivery, he laughed and cited his roots.

“I’m a little country. I’m from Alabama. A lot of people say it looks very country when I throw, so I guess that’s where it comes from, that side of the Alabama River,” he said.

He entered Sunday’s game with a 9-2 lead, the ideal situation for a debut. He got a ground-ball out and a strikeout, gave up a double and finished with another ground-out.

And yes, he did have to battle his nerves.

“They won, I think,” Crawford said. “They won the battle. I was very nervous.”

As with most rookies, his debut had a surreal air about it.

“Getting to come out on the field is just a euphoric feeling. It’s just one of those things that you always looked forward to, and you’re not sure if it’s real when it happens, but it was awesome.”

Crawford is the Jays’ extra reliever for the time being. It is uncertain whether he will stay when they add a fifth starter on April 21, but manager John Farrell is clearly a Crawford fan.

“He’s a left-hander that can throw in the low 90s with the ability to have one, if not two, above-average breaking pitches,” Farrell said. “He’s got a lot working for him. He’s the type of guy that’s going to pitch in the big leagues for a long time.”

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